Improvement in adjustable clutches tor lifting well-tubing



A ottimi gatita @anni @tj-tire.

Letters 'Patent No. 93,761, dated August 1,7, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN ADJUSTABLE QL'U'TCHES FOR LIFTING- WELL-TUBING.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and-maling part of the same. g

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,-WILL1AM A. SPRING, of the city of Titusville, county of Crawford, and State of Penn- Sylvania, have invented a certain new and improved Adjustable Tubing-Clutch; and I .do hereby declare that the following is a t'ull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification. Ihe object of my invention is to provide a clutch for lowering and raising tubing'in artesian wells,.whic'h shall be sufficiently adjustable to' it any ordinary-sized well-tubing, and to adjust itself to any irregularities upon tbe edges of the collars or thimbles, while it shall be durable, readily attached and detached, and secure in its hold upon the tubing.

' In the drawings- Figure l represents a front view or elevationof my improved clutch;

Figure 2 is an edge view of the saine; and v Figures 3 and 4 are horizontal sections, taken on lines A B and G D.

a a are vertical jaws, curved and connect-eid 'at their upper ends by the double-jointed hinge b.V

Said jaws are also curved inwardlyjattheir lower ends, and'forged into the proper form to tit and grip a tube, say, of three inches diameter, or thereabouts, all as shown, the griping-edge a',of the jaws, being preferablytippe'd with steel.A

cis a central bolt, having an eye at its upper end for the attachment of a rope, and connected at its lower end with the jaws a, a, by means of the links d al, the jaws being pivoted to the hinge b, and the links d d to the jaws and bolt c, as shown.

The hinge l) and the upper ends of the jaws are ar-I ranged to embrace the bolt c, and allow it to play freely through or between them.

In thedrawings, the blue lines represent a piece of tube with thimble or collar attached.

In using this clutch, the ends a.' of the jawsvare passed over the collar or other projectionY upon the tube; and upon tightening the rope e, the weight or strain upon the jaws is transmitted through the pivoted links d d to the bolt c, and, under vthev described arrangement of parts, any weight or" strain upon said bolt tends to draw the jaws together, so`that the greater the weightof the tubing, the lirmer it is grped and held between them. I

Upon slackening the rope c, the jaws a a, are instantly spread, and the clutch detached.

When in use,a small pin may be loosely inserted in the bolt c, above the hinge At, to prevent the "detachment .of the clutch by any accidental slackening of the rope.

When desirable,`a swivel may be attached to theA upper Aend f the bolt c.

By arranging the bolt c to embrace the hinge b,.in

.stead of passing through it, a single pivot will suiiice to connectthe upper ends of the jaws e a, but I prefer the arrangement shown, as it allows of the separate vertical adjustment of each jaw t-o fit any irregu larities .upon the edge of the collar.

I am aware that grappling-tongs have been constructed, in which the parts were so arranged that the viirmness of the grip was increased by and in proportion to the weight ofthe article to be lifted, and I make no broad claim to such an arrangement; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Iatelit, is-

An adjustable tubing-clutch, with hinged jaws a a, hinge '11, links d d, and central bolt c, all combined and arranged substantially as and for the' purposes set fort-h.

WILLIAM A. SPRING. Y

Witnesses: A. B. HowLANn,

IV. H. HARPER. 

